Water Resources Development Act of 2010

The Water Resources Development Act of 2010 (H.R. 5892) authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a wide range of projects aimed at improving the nation's water infrastructure, including flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration. For local communities, the bill provides for the construction of hurricane and storm damage barriers, the dredging of harbors to support commercial shipping, and the restoration of vital wetlands and aquatic habitats across several states. Additionally, the legislation mandates that iron, steel, and manufactured goods used in these projects be produced in the United States to support domestic industry.

The bill also updates how water projects are managed by requiring more transparent reporting on project costs and environmental mitigation efforts. By authorizing new feasibility studies and modifying existing projects, the act seeks to address specific regional needs such as shoreline protection in Florida, flood risk reduction in the Midwest, and the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia River watersheds. Although this specific version of the bill was passed by the House of Representatives in 2010, it did not become law; however, many of its provisions helped shape subsequent water infrastructure policies.